the American judicial system will lead you to a deeper understanding of the wishes of

our founding fathers. You will need and history lesson. Step 1. Investigate the origin of

the law. The United States Constitution was finalized in 1788 and is still the supreme

law of the land. It was based on the principal that all people have the right to life, liberty,

and the pursuit of happiness. The Constitution protects the sovereignty of each state while

mandating that they are unified as one nation. Step 2. Understand the authority of the branches.

The power of the federal government was balanced among three equal branches to create a long-lasting

government that would serve everyone. The three branches are the executive, legislative,

and judicial branches. Americans vote to elect the members of the executive and legislative

branches. The members of the judicial branch are appointed by the President and confirmed

by the Senate. Step 3. Study the Supreme Court's power. The Supreme Court of the United States

is the highest court and all lower courts are obligated to follow the guides set by

the Supreme Court when making decisions. Step 4. Learn about the lower courts: district

courts and the courts of appeals. District courts handle most federal law cases. The

U.S. courts of appeals review the appealed district court cases. Step 5. Learn the difference

between the state and federal courts. Each state has its own court system. State courts

have hierarchy levels with the highest level being the state's supreme court. Federal courts

make sure that state laws obey federal laws. Now you have a good understanding of the American

judicial system. Did you know Congress determines the number of Supreme Court Justices. There

have been as many as 9 and as few as 6.